NHT 2.5i VS NHT Classic 4

Late to the party, but since other people read these forums besides the OP, I'll answer.

I've owned both, still own both, and dry up with the same amp and preamp, the Classic 4s obliterate the 2.5I's. Similar house sounds, with an up tilted tonal balance, but the classics disappear better, have more extended highs, deeper lows, better soundstaging, and sound more refined.

Had the same problem with the 2.5i (jealous of that mahogony finish you had Polarin!) The Classic 4's (and 3's I have in my bedroom), are the first NHT speakers I'd recommend to anyone, not just people who like NHT.

People would hear my 2.5i's, and think about buying them, and I'd warn them off. They really needed the right amp, ancillaries, and room to work. The Classic 4's need power, but they're not as fussy. Heard them sing with an Arcam a38, and with my McCormack DNA1, even with a Pioneer sc61 I use when it's just too hot, and I don't feel like running my McCormack space heater. Couldn't run 2.5's off a receiver like that. (well, you could, but they'd sound like hell)

They're great speakers. My only audio friend has Thiel 2.4's, and while we're both too prideful to ever admit that "your speakers are better", we both get tremendous enjoyment out of taking over one another's systems when one visits the other.

You won't blow them. You'd have to run them with that amp for hours @ full tilt for that to happen. More likely to blue them running them off a 20 watt tube amp @ full volume. Lots of clean power never hurt any speaker.

I ran the 2.5s with a w4s st500. Sounded pretty good. Keep us posted :-)

Glad you're enjoying them again. I left my 2.5i's in storage, and miss them sometimes.

But yeah, keep your eye out. Classic 4's have been coming up super cheap lately. And, they're way better than their going price.